Costa Rica National Park Guide

Costa Rica has become an increasingly popular destination for people who want to experience the beauty that nature has to offer in this country. Although it has lost many of its forests, the government has made great efforts to protect its wilderness in the form of a huge system of national parks.



The park system encompasses 10.27% of the country while 17% more is dedicated to wildlife refuges, Indian reserves, forest reserves and "buffer zones". The number of national parks include some 32 different locations. Included in these is around 75% of all the flora and fauna species found within Costa Rica, representing a great legacy.



Corcovado

This extensive park covering 425 km, provides a home to a wide variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and crabs. Within the crabs alone, there are 70 different varieties. Of the mammals, there are 50 different types of bats.



Other mammals represented are monkeys, sloths, anteaters, otters, raccoons, peccaries and several cats including jaguars, ocelots, jaguarandis, pumas and margays. Endangered species include Baird's tapir, harpy eagles and squirrel monkeys. One reason that there is so much variety and great numbers of wildlife is because of the variety of plant life with a great variety of forests, as well as swamps and beaches. The beaches are well worth a visit all on their own.



The park is open to the public for both day trips as well as for camping in specified areas. Trails are numerous but care needs to be taken. On some, there are rivers to be crossed that can be dangerous if they are at high tide. Crocodiles and bull sharks can be found in some when the water is high. The currents in places as well can represent a danger.



For the most part, however, it is safe to walk around the trails here, despite the abundance of potential dangerous animals. Jaguars, for example, are fairly elusive and would prefer to leave people alone. Tapirs also could present a threat but, if left to their own devices, do not pose a threat.



Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the most visited of the Costa Rican parks, although one of the smallest. It features a variety of beaches, rainforests, coral reefs, islands, islets and cliffs of volcanic rocks. All of this not only offers beautiful vistas but provides homes for a variety of plants and animals including 184 types of birds and 109 mammal species.



Among the wildlife that can be found here are scarlet macaws, toucans, monkeys, iguanas, sloths, pelicans, anhingas and frigate birds. Trails allow one to walk around the park, getting a fantastic view as well as allowing you to observe the stunning nature that can be found here.



It's worth going here just for the beaches, considered among the loveliest that the country has to offer. Popular as the park is, it's not too difficult to find yourself alone with nature, imaging that it's your own private paradise. There are restaurants and hotels nearby so that it's easy to spend as much time as you like in this location.



Other activities possible here include scuba diving, sea kayaking, mountain biking and snorkeling. Visitors must leave the park at 4 pm each day as the tides at that time will cut off the exits of the park as well as allow crocodiles to enter.



Costa Rica vacation packages can come at a great price and give you the best experience. Click the following link for more information about Costa Rica tours.